COURSE: COMMUNICATION SKILLS (SSC 201)

SYLLABUS

I. Communication Skills : An overview

II. Significance and Role of Communication Skills
III. Communication: Mechanics & Classification
IV. Oral & Written Communication
V. Developing & Organizing Ideas
VI. Effective Listening & Speaking
VII. Argumentation & Persuasion
VIII. Critical Argument Analysis
IX. Précis Writing
X. Making Presentations

Core Reading List:

1. Kathleen S. Verderber, Deanna D. Sellnow, and Rudolph F. Verderber (2017) Communicate!
[15th edition] Cengage Learning.
2. Kirszner, L. G., Mandell, S. R. (2014). Patterns for College Writing: A Rhetorical Reader and
Guide. Bedford/St. Martin's
3. Lunsford, A. A., & Ruszkiewicz, J. J. (2022). Everything's an argument. [9th Edition].
Bedford/St. Martin’s
4. Oshima, A. & Hogue, A. (2006). Writing Academic English. [4th Edition], Pearson Longman.
5. Wood, J. T (2016). Communication in our Lives [8th Edition]. Cengage Learning.
 COURSE: COMMUNICATION SKILLS (201)

Course Objectives:
• Appreciate the significance of communication
• Understand the process of communication
• Critically read a text and evaluate arguments
• Develop thesis statements
• Employ effective interpersonal skills
• Organize information in a coherent manner
• Engage in effective business communication
• Make oral presentations

Teaching Strategy:

Some of the instructional strategies are Lectures, independent reading, independent learning,
discussions, information gap, information transfer, brainstorming, mind and concept maps, jigsaw/
expert groups, group investigation, simulation, debates/creative controversies, presentations, problem
solving, critical reading response journals, free writing, quizzes, classroom assignments, and
portfolios.

Final Assessment Criteria:

Class Participation 05%
Quizzes/Mini Assignments 15%
Extempore Speeches 5%
Mock Trial 5%
End-term Essay 5%
Presentations 10%
Mid-Term Examination 20%
Final Examination 35%

Attendance Policy
If a student is absent for more than 8 classes in the course, then they will be dropped from the course
and given an I (incomplete) grade.

Examination Policy
No make-up exam will be given except for medical emergencies. The controller of examinations must
determine that a valid excuse has been accepted. If a mid-term is missed with a valid excuse, the
make-up will be given with the final exam. Unexcused missed mid-terms will receive a grade of zero.
Students who miss the final will have to take it the following year (i.e., the next time the course is
offered). In case of a final exam retake , there will be a deduction of 20% from the student’s acquired
final exam scores.
Students without a valid excuse for the missed final exam will have to re-take the course.

Policy on Plagiarism/Cheating
The plagiarism in group project/presentations/individual assignments or cheating during exam will
result in a 0 on the respective task. The students must note that plagiarism includes the submission/
presentation of a report/article that has been previously used for another course (even by the same
author) or another student.

Lahore School of Economics Plagiarism Policy

Lahore School adheres strictly to HEC plagiarism policies which are available on the HEC website
and Lahore School handbook on plagiarism policy.
The policy can be found at http://hec.gov.pk/english/services/faculty/Documents/Plagiarism/
Plagiarism%20Policy.pdf
The Lahore School Regulations on Student Code of Behavior specifies penalties for plagiarism in
reports, research papers and presentations in courses taken and in articles published while studying at
the Lahore School.

Learning Outcomes
• Understand the process of communication and the requirements of a formal versus informal
interaction
• Develop confidence in facing an audience and presenting their arguments effectively,
especially while making oral presentations
• Read a text critically and evaluate the arguments made along with identifying elements that
weaken an argument.
• Appreciate the concept of working in teams and the ways of achieving effective interpersonal
skills and harmonious relationships.
• Cultivate the understanding of creating a focused thesis, generating strong support, and
organizing substantiating details in a coherent manner for all written and oral communication
tasks while being conscious of the importance of precision.
 COURSE: COMMUNICATION SKILLS (201)
Session Topics
Communication Skills: An
Overview
The process of communication
Mechanics of communication
Active Listening
Reading Strategies
Non-Verbal Communication
Developing Ideas
Effective Public Speaking
Public Speaking
Paragraph writing
Organization
Précis
Argumentation & Persuasion I
Argumentation & Persuasion II Logical Fallacies
Mid term exam
Interpersonal Communication
Extempore Speeches
Extempore Speeches
Developing Power Point
Presentations
Reading Critically: Critical
Argument Analysis
Essay Wriitng
Visual Communication
Discussion Sessions
Overview of course
Communication Models
Communication barriers: Oral, Written, and ICTs
(Information and Communication Technologies)
Exploring the Rhetorical Stance for Oral & Written
Communication
7Cs of Communication
Exercises
Exercises
Quiz
Brain Storming
Narrowing down
Creating an outline
Introducing topic sentence, structure and types of
paragraphs
Analyzing speeches
Spontaneous speaking (Activity)
Developing supporting ideas in a paragraph
Achieving cohesion and coherence
Exercises
Aristotlean persuasion strategies (Logos, ethos, pathos)
Toulmin’s argument
Mid term exam
Johari window (Activity)
Communication in groups
Activity
Activity
Developing and organizing ideas in power point
presentations
Audience analysis (Speaking situation and
demographics)
Writing a Critique
Developing Thesis Statements
Outlines for Essays
Critically analyzing Visual Content (Web content
analysis)
Visual Communication II Composing an essay on a visual prompt
Presentations
Presentations
Presentations
Critical Essay End term critical essay
Mock Trial Activity
Mock Trial Activity
Final Examination